Could there be another Group 1 winner lurking in the Gordon Richards this year?

It is often the case that this race is a Group 3 in name only and the recent history is chock full of Group 1 scorers. Noble Mission, My Dream Boat, Ulysses, Crystal Ocean and Mostahdaf were all winners who won at the top level and only three of the last nine successful failed to score at the highest grade.

Could there be another Group 1 winner lurking among this year’s field? It looks likely because five of the seven runners hold top-level entries and See The Fire was only a neck away from winning a Group 1 herself last season, when second in the Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

A Racing Post Rating of 116 for that effort means that See The Fire sets the standard on adjusted RPRs, but she is more exposed than many of her rivals and could be vulnerable.

Almaqam is one of the likely improvers against her and he looked like a Group 1 winner in waiting when running away with the Listed Heron Stakes over a mile on his sole visit to this course last year. He went on to show improved form upped to this distance later in the season.

See The Fire: second in the NassauCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

His RPR of 116 for a close second in the Prix Dollar at Longchamp in October equals the best figure of See The Fire, and it is only the 3lb female allowance that separates them. It evidently won’t take a huge amount of progress for Almaqam to improve past that big rival.

Royal Champion, Ancient Wisdom and Arabian Crown are the three other Group 1 entries in the line-up and William Buick appears to have chosen Ancient Wisdom over stablemate Arabian Crown, who he has ridden to two wins at the course. Maybe that will be significant.
Analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

Karl Burke, trainer of Royal Champion
I think he's got Group 1 ability. He's a good traveller and he'll be a good international horse for us this season.

Ed Walker, trainer of Almaqam
We hope he will develop into a Group 1 horse and he worked well on Sunday. He's in great form. We've done all we can with him at home and he's been to Kempton for a workout, but he'll doubtless come on for the run.

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Ancient Wisdom and Arabian Crown
Ancient Wisdom has come forward for his run at Newbury when he looked rusty. I don’t think dropping back to a mile and a quarter is going to be an inconvenience and it’s something that we have toyed with over the spring. Hopefully he can run a solid race and we can look at some summer targets on good or softer. Arabian Crown has definitely come on since his run in Dubai. This trip might be slightly on the sharp side as we feel that he might be better over a mile and a half. It’s time to get him back on the racetrack and we felt that the ground might get too quick for him if we waited until something like the Jockey Club Stakes at the Guineas meeting.

Charlie Appleby: Godolphin trainer has a strong hand with Ancient Wisdom and Arabian CrownCredit: Edward Whitaker

Thady Gosden, joint-trainer of Peace Man
It's a very competitive running of the race but this looks a good starting point for him. He has pleased in his spring preparation and will enjoy any ease in the ground.

Oisin Murphy, rider of See The Fire
She had a very good season last year and appreciated the extended mile in Strenstall Stakes at York. I’m looking forward to going a mile and a quarter on her and she wasn’t beaten that far when she tried it in the Nassau Stakes, which is a Group 1.
Reporting by James Stevens

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